On October 28, at the opening ceremony of the 2026 China Society of Automotive Engineers Annual Conference (SAECCE) in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, Wang Chuanfu, chairman and president of BYD, received the 2026 Automotive Industry Rao Bin Award. During his acceptance speech, Wang remarked, "Today is arguably the moment we are closest to becoming a strong automotive nation." The award, established in 2015 and named after Rao Bin, one of the founders of China's automotive industry, recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the sector's innovation and development. Wang becomes the 11th recipient, following previous honorees such as Li Gang, Chen Zutao, Li Shufu, Wei Jianjun, Yin Tongyue, and Zhu Huarong.
From batteries to a global EV giant
In his speech, Wang reviewed BYD's three-decade journey. The company started in 1994 as a battery manufacturer and entered the automotive industry in 2003. At that time, new-energy vehicles were not yet mainstream, and BYD's chosen technology path faced external skepticism. "We wanted to solve a proof problem—to prove that China's new energy can work, and that Chinese cars can work," Wang said. He acknowledged that the path was not smooth, admitting that BYD once faced a critical moment when its capital chain nearly broke, but the company never abandoned its direction. "No matter what difficulties we encounter, as long as the ideal is right and the direction is right, we must persist," he added.
Today, BYD is a major player in the global new-energy vehicle market. Wang revealed that as of October this year, BYD's total workforce exceeded 1.02 million, including about 60,000 overseas employees and 120,000 R&D engineers, spanning core fields such as batteries, motors, electronic controls, semiconductors, and software.
A shared achievement
Wang emphasized that the achievements of China's new-energy vehicle industry are the result of national strategic guidance, policy support, and the collective participation of many automakers. He noted that the older generation of automotive pioneers, including Rao Bin, achieved the leap from nothing to something in China's auto industry. The current generation's historical mission, he said, is to complete the transition from a large automotive country to a strong one.
According to First Electric (D1EV), the award ceremony took place during the SAECCE annual meeting, which gathers industry leaders and experts to discuss technological advancements and policy directions. The recognition underscores Wang's influence in shaping China's electric-vehicle landscape, particularly through BYD's vertical integration and aggressive global expansion.
